Family System

Therapy
Presenter: Shiela S. Badiang
  Brief History
 The Family Systems Perspective
 Differences Between Systemic and Individual Approaches
 The Development of Family Systems Therapy
Key Figures
Time Focus
Therapy Goals
Role and Functions of Therapist
Outline Process of Change
Techniques and Innovation
 Eight Lenses in Family Systems Therapy
 A Multilensed Process of Family Therapy
 Contributions and Limitations in terms of:
 Multicultural Counseling
Approaches
  In the 1960s and 1970s,
 Psychodynamic First Force
 Behavioral, and Second Force
Third Force
 Humanistic approaches

 Today, Family systems represent a paradigm shift

Brief History that we might even call the “fourth force.”
  Individuals are best understood through assessing the
interactions between and among family members
 Development and behavior of one family member are
inextricably interconnected with others in the family
 Symptoms are often viewed as an expression of a set of
habits and patterns within a family
The Family  Client’s problem might be a symptom of how the
system functions, not just a symptom of the individual’s
Systems maladjustment, history, and psychosocial development
Perspectives
Assumed that a client's problematic behavior may:
- serve a function or purpose for the family,
- be unintentionally maintained by family processes,
- be a function of the family’s inability to operate
productively
- be a symptom of dysfunctional patterns handed down
across generations
  client is connected to living systems

Family
Systems
Therapy

Central
Principle of
Therapists
FOCUS: INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

Becvar and Becvar ( 2006), Relationship Therapy

is a more appropriate Label
 Sample Case
Ann, age 22, sees a counselor because she is
suffering from a depression that has lasted for
more than 2 years and has impaired her ability
Differences to maintain friendships and work productively.
Between
She wants to feel better, but she is pessimistic
Systemic and
about her chances. She is still living at home
Individual
Approaches with her parents, who are in their 60s. She has a
very successful older sister, who is a prominent
lawyer in the small town in which the two live.
She lost her friends who have married and left
town over the years while she stayed behind,
often lonely and isolated.
 Individual Approach Systemic Approach
 Focus on obtaining an accurate  Explore the system for family
diagnosis, perhaps using the DSM- processes and rules, perhaps using a
5 genogram

 Begin therapy with Ann  Invite Ann’s mother, father, and sister
immediately into therapy with her
Differences
Between  Focus on the causes, purposes, and  Focus on the family relationships
cognitive, emotional, and within which the continuation of
Systemic and behavioral processes involved in Ann’s depression “makes sense
Individual Ann’s depression and coping

Approaches  Be concerned with Ann’s  Be concerned with transgenerational

individual experiences and meanings, rules, cultural, and gender
perspectives perspectives within the system, and
even the community and larger
systems affecting the family

 Intervene in ways designed to help

 Intervene in ways designed to help change Ann’s context
Ann cope
  client is connected to living systems

Family
Systems
Therapy

Central
Principle of
Therapists
INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS
 1. Adlerian Family Therapy

2. Multigenerational Family Therapy

Development
3. Human Validation Process Model
of Family
Systems
Perspective 4. Experiential Family Therapy

5. Structural Family Therapy

6. Strategic Family Therapy

  Adlerian Family Multi-Generational Human Validation Experience/Symbolic Structural Family Strategic Family Therapy
Therapy Family Therapy Process Model Family Therapy Therapy

Key figures Alfred Adler Murray Bowen Virginia Satir Carl Whitaker Salvador Minuchin Jay Haley & Cloe
Rudolf Dreikurs Madanes
Oscar Christensen
Manford Sonstegard
Time focus Present with some Present and past: Here and Now Present Present and Past Present and Future
reference to the past family of origin; three
generations
Therapy Enable parents as Differentiate the self; Promote growth, self- Promote spontaneity, Restructure family Eliminate presenting
goals leaders; unlock change the individual esteem, and creativity, autonomy, organization; change problem; change
mistaken goals and within the context of connection; help family and ability to play dysfunctional dysfunctional patterns;
interactional patterns the system; decrease reach, congruent transactional patterns interrupt sequence
in family; promotion anxiety communication and
of effective parenting interaction

Role and Educator; Guide, objective Active facilitator; Family coach; Friendly uncle; stage Active director of
Function of motivational; researcher, teacher, resource detective; challenger; model for manager; promoter of change; problem solver
Therapist investigator; monitor of own model for congruence change through play change I family
collaborator reactivity structure
Process of Formation of Questions and Family is helped to Awareness and seeds Therapist joins the Change occurs through
Change relationship based on cognitive processes move from status quo of change are planted family in a leadership action-oriented
mutual respect; lead to differentiation through chaos to new in therapy role; changes directives and
investigation of birth and understanding of possibilities and new confrontations structure; sets paradoxical
order and mistaken family of origin integrations boundaries interventions
goals, reeducation
Techniques Family constellation; Genograms, dealing Empathy; touch, Co-therapy; self- Joining & Reframing; directives
and typical day; goal with family-of-origin communication; disclosure; accommodating; and paradox;
Innovations disclosure; issues; detriangulating sculpting; role playing; confrontation; use of unbalancing; tracking; amplifying; pretending,
natural/logical relationships family life chronology self as change agent boundary making; enactments
consequences enactments
  Adlerian Family Multi-Generational Human Validation Experience/Symbolic Structural Family Strategic Family Therapy
Therapy Family Therapy Process Model Family Therapy Therapy

Key figures Alfred Adler Murray Bowen Virginia Satir Carl Whitaker Salvador Minuchin Jay Haley & Cloe
Rudolf Dreikurs Madanes
Oscar Christensen
Manford Sonstegard
Time focus Present with some Present and past: Here and Now Present Present and Past Present and Future
reference to the past family of origin; three
generations
Therapy Enable parents as Differentiate the self; Promote growth, self- Promote spontaneity, Restructure family Eliminate presenting
goals leaders; unlock change the individual esteem, and creativity, autonomy, organization; change problem; change
mistaken goals and within the context of connection; help family and ability to play dysfunctional dysfunctional patterns;
interactional patterns the system; decrease reach, congruent transactional patterns interrupt sequence
in family; promotion anxiety communication and
of effective parenting interaction

Role and Educator; Guide, objective Active facilitator; Family coach; Friendly uncle; stage Active director of
Function of motivational; researcher, teacher, resource detective; challenger; model for manager; promoter of change; problem solver
Therapist investigator; monitor of own model for congruence change through play change I family
collaborator reactivity structure
Process of Formation of Questions and Family is helped to Awareness and seeds Therapist joins the Change occurs through
Change relationship based on cognitive processes move from status quo of change are planted family in a leadership action-oriented
mutual respect; lead to differentiation through chaos to new in therapy role; changes directives and
investigation of birth and understanding of possibilities and new confrontations structure; sets paradoxical
order and mistaken family of origin integrations boundaries interventions
goals, reeducation
Techniques Family constellation; Genograms, dealing Empathy; touch, Co-therapy; self- Joining & Reframing; directives
and typical day; goal with family-of-origin communication; disclosure; accommodating; and paradox;
Innovations disclosure; issues; detriangulating sculpting; role playing; confrontation; use of unbalancing; tracking; amplifying; pretending,
natural/logical relationships family life chronology self as change agent boundary making; enactments
consequences enactments
  Adlerian Family Multi-Generational Human Validation Experience/Symbolic Structural Family Strategic Family Therapy
Therapy Family Therapy Process Model Family Therapy Therapy

Key figures Alfred Adler Murray Bowen Virginia Satir Carl Whitaker Salvador Minuchin Jay Haley & Cloe
Rudolf Dreikurs Madanes
Oscar Christensen
Manford Sonstegard
Time focus Present with some Present and past: Here and Now Present Present and Past Present and Future
reference to the past family of origin; three
generations
Therapy Enable parents as Differentiate the self; Promote growth, self- Promote spontaneity, Restructure family Eliminate presenting
goals leaders; unlock change the individual esteem, and creativity, autonomy, organization; change problem; change
mistaken goals and within the context of connection; help family and ability to play dysfunctional dysfunctional patterns;
interactional patterns the system; decrease reach, congruent transactional patterns interrupt sequence
in family; promotion anxiety communication and
of effective parenting interaction

Role and Educator; Guide, objective Active facilitator; Family coach; Friendly uncle; stage Active director of
Function of motivational; researcher, teacher, resource detective; challenger; model for manager; promoter of change; problem solver
Therapist investigator; monitor of own model for congruence change through play change I family
collaborator reactivity structure
Process of Formation of Questions and Family is helped to Awareness and seeds Therapist joins the Change occurs through
Change relationship based on cognitive processes move from status quo of change are planted family in a leadership action-oriented
mutual respect; lead to differentiation through chaos to new in therapy role; changes directives and
investigation of birth and understanding of possibilities and new confrontations structure; sets paradoxical
order and mistaken family of origin integrations boundaries interventions
goals, reeducation
Techniques Family constellation; Genograms, dealing Empathy; touch, Co-therapy; self- Joining & Reframing; directives
and typical day; goal with family-of-origin communication; disclosure; accommodating; and paradox;
Innovations disclosure; issues; detriangulating sculpting; role playing; confrontation; use of unbalancing; tracking; amplifying; pretending,
natural/logical relationships family life chronology self as change agent boundary making; enactments
consequences enactments
  Adlerian Family Multi-Generational Human Validation Experience/Symbolic Structural Family Strategic Family Therapy
Therapy Family Therapy Process Model Family Therapy Therapy

Key figures Alfred Adler Murray Bowen Virginia Satir Carl Whitaker Salvador Minuchin Jay Haley & Cloe
Rudolf Dreikurs Madanes
Oscar Christensen
Manford Sonstegard
Time focus Present with some Present and past: Here and Now Present Present and Past Present and Future
reference to the past family of origin; three
generations
Therapy Enable parents as Differentiate the self; Promote growth, self- Promote spontaneity, Restructure family Eliminate presenting
goals leaders; unlock change the individual esteem, and creativity, autonomy, organization; change problem; change
mistaken goals and within the context of connection; help family and ability to play dysfunctional dysfunctional patterns;
interactional patterns the system; decrease reach, congruent transactional patterns interrupt sequence
in family; promotion anxiety communication and
of effective parenting interaction

Role and Educator; Guide, objective Active facilitator; Family coach; Friendly uncle; stage Active director of
Function of motivational; researcher, teacher, resource detective; challenger; model for manager; promoter of change; problem solver
Therapist investigator; monitor of own model for congruence change through play change I family
collaborator reactivity structure
Process of Formation of Questions and Family is helped to Awareness and seeds Therapist joins the Change occurs through
Change relationship based on cognitive processes move from status quo of change are planted family in a leadership action-oriented
mutual respect; lead to differentiation through chaos to new in therapy role; changes directives and
investigation of birth and understanding of possibilities and new confrontations structure; sets paradoxical
order and mistaken family of origin integrations boundaries interventions
goals, reeducation
Techniques Family constellation; Genograms, dealing Empathy; touch, Co-therapy; self- Joining & Reframing; directives
and typical day; goal with family-of-origin communication;f amily disclosure; accommodating; and paradox;
Innovations disclosure; issues; detriangulating sculpting; role playing; confrontation; use of unbalancing; tracking; amplifying; pretending,
natural/logical relationships family life chronology self as change agent boundary making; enactments
consequences enactments
  Adlerian Family Multi-Generational Human Validation Experience/Symbolic Structural Family Strategic Family Therapy
Therapy Family Therapy Process Model Family Therapy Therapy

Key figures Alfred Adler Murray Bowen Virginia Satir Carl Whitaker Salvador Minuchin Jay Haley & Cloe
Rudolf Dreikurs Madanes
Oscar Christensen
Manford Sonstegard
Time focus Present with some Present and past: Here and Now Present Present and Past Present and Future
reference to the past family of origin; three
generations
Therapy Enable parents as Differentiate the self; Promote growth, self- Promote spontaneity, Restructure family Eliminate presenting
goals leaders; unlock change the individual esteem, and creativity, autonomy, organization; change problem; change
mistaken goals and within the context of connection; help family and ability to play dysfunctional dysfunctional patterns;
interactional patterns the system; decrease reach, congruent transactional patterns interrupt sequence
in family; promotion anxiety communication and
of effective parenting interaction

Role and Educator; Guide, objective Active facilitator; Family coach; Friendly uncle; stage Active director of
Function of motivational; researcher, teacher, resource detective; challenger; model for manager; promoter of change; problem solver
Therapist investigator; monitor of own model for congruence change through play change I family
collaborator reactivity structure
Process of Formation of Questions and Family is helped to Awareness and seeds Therapist joins the Change occurs through
Change relationship based on cognitive processes move from status quo of change are planted family in a leadership action-oriented
mutual respect; lead to differentiation through chaos to new in therapy role; changes directives and
investigation of birth and understanding of possibilities and new confrontations structure; sets paradoxical
order and mistaken family of origin integrations boundaries interventions
goals, reeducation
Techniques Family constellation; Genograms, dealing Empathy; touch, Co-therapy; self- Joining & Reframing; directives
and typical day; goal with family-of-origin communication; disclosure; accommodating; and paradox;
Innovations disclosure; issues; triangluation sculpting; role playing; confrontation; use of unbalancing; tracking; amplifying; pretending,
natural/logical relationships family life chronology self as change agent boundary making; enactments
consequences enactments
  Adlerian Family Multi-Generational Human Validation Experience/Symbolic Structural Family Strategic Family Therapy
Therapy Family Therapy Process Model Family Therapy Therapy

Key figures Alfred Adler Murray Bowen Virginia Satir Carl Whitaker Salvador Minuchin Jay Haley & Cloe
Rudolf Dreikurs Madanes
Oscar Christensen
Manford Sonstegard
Time focus Present with some Present and past: Here and Now Present Present and Past Present and Future
reference to the past family of origin; three
generations
Therapy Enable parents as Differentiate the self; Promote growth, self- Promote spontaneity, Restructure family Eliminate presenting
goals leaders; unlock change the individual esteem, and creativity, autonomy, organization; change problem; change
mistaken goals and within the context of connection; help family and ability to play dysfunctional dysfunctional patterns;
interactional patterns the system; decrease reach, congruent transactional patterns interrupt sequence
in family; promotion anxiety communication and
of effective parenting interaction

Role and Educator; Guide, objective Active facilitator; Family coach; Friendly uncle; stage Active director of
Function of motivational; researcher, teacher, resource detective; challenger; model for manager; promoter of change; problem solver
Therapist investigator; monitor of own model for congruence change through play change I family
collaborator reactivity structure
Process of Formation of Questions and Family is helped to Awareness and seeds Therapist joins the Change occurs through
Change relationship based on cognitive processes move from status quo of change are planted family in a leadership action-oriented
mutual respect; lead to differentiation through chaos to new in therapy role; changes directives and
investigation of birth and understanding of possibilities and new confrontations structure; sets paradoxical
order and mistaken family of origin integrations boundaries interventions
goals, reeducation
Techniques Family constellation; Genograms, dealing Empathy; touch, Co-therapy; self- Joining & Reframing; directives
and typical day; goal with family-of-origin communication; disclosure; accommodating; and paradox;
Innovations disclosure; issues; detriangulating sculpting; role playing; confrontation; use of unbalancing; tracking; amplifying; pretending,
natural/logical relationships family life chronology self as change agent boundary making; enactments
consequences enactments
  Adlerian Family Multi-Generational Human Validation Experience/Symbolic Structural Family Strategic Family Therapy
Therapy Family Therapy Process Model Family Therapy Therapy

Key figures Alfred Adler Murray Bowen Virginia Satir Carl Whitaker Salvador Minuchin Jay Haley & Cloe
Rudolf Dreikurs Madanes
Oscar Christensen
Manford Sonstegard
Time focus Present with some Present and past: Here and Now Present Present and Past Present and Future
reference to the past family of origin; three
generations
Therapy Enable parents as Differentiate the self; Promote growth, self- Promote spontaneity, Restructure family Eliminate presenting
goals leaders; unlock change the individual esteem, and creativity, autonomy, organization; change problem; change
mistaken goals and within the context of connection; help family and ability to play dysfunctional dysfunctional patterns;
interactional patterns the system; decrease reach, congruent transactional patterns interrupt sequence
in family; promotion anxiety communication and
of effective parenting interaction

Role and Educator; Guide, objective Active facilitator; Family coach; Friendly uncle; stage Active director of
Function of motivational; researcher, teacher, resource detective; challenger; model for manager; promoter of change; problem solver
Therapist investigator; monitor of own model for congruence change through play change I family
collaborator reactivity structure
Process of Formation of Questions and Family is helped to Awareness and seeds Therapist joins the Change occurs through
Change relationship based on cognitive processes move from status quo of change are planted family in a leadership action-oriented
mutual respect; lead to differentiation through chaos to new in therapy role; changes directives and
investigation of birth and understanding of possibilities and new confrontations structure; sets paradoxical
order and mistaken family of origin integrations boundaries interventions
goals, reeducation
Techniques Family constellation; Genograms, dealing Empathy; touch, Co-therapy; self- Joining & Reframing; directives
and typical day; goal with family-of-origin communication; disclosure; accommodating; and paradox;
Innovations disclosure; issues; detriangulating sculpting; role playing; confrontation; use of unbalancing; tracking; amplifying; pretending,
natural/logical relationships family life chronology self as change agent boundary making; enactments
consequences enactments
 1. Internal Family Systems (or
8 Lenses in individual)
Family Systems
Therapy 2. Sequences (or patterns of
interaction)
Breunlin, 3. Organization of the system
Schwartz, and 4. Developmental
MacKune-
Karrer (1997) 5. Multicultural
6. Gender
- 7. Teleological
Metaframeworks
8. Process
 1. Individual’s Internal
Family Systems
8 Lenses in Family Views individual as an
Systems Therapy organismic system, complete
with structure, organization, and
subsystems

Breunlin, Schwartz, Individual has many parts or

and MacKune- dimensions to his personality
Karrer (1997)
However, when parts become
polarized – individual
- Metaframeworks experiences conflict

How does each person describe Parts emanate from our

who he/she is?
SOCIAL INTERACTION AND
DEVELOPMENTAL EXPERIENCES

 2. Sequences
(or patterns of interaction)

 Looks into the repeated multiple forms of interaction

8 Lenses in Family
Systems Therapy  Breunlin and his colleague (1997), refer to these patterns as
embedded sequences
 Level of Sequences:
Breunlin, Schwartz, 1. Face-to-face sequence
and MacKune- 2. Routines
Karrer (1997) 3. Ebbs and flows of life
4. Transgenerational
- Metaframeworks  Adaptive sequences develop in cooperative and fair
environments while maladaptive sequences develop in rigid ones
where change is resisted
 What routines support the daily living of each member of the
family?
 3. Organization (of the system)
 Looks into the living structure of the family – family rules,
8 Lenses in Family routines, rituals, ad expected role
Systems Therapy  Emphasis on the hierarchical structure of the family
system (early years)
 Breunlin and his colleagues (1997) have replaced the idea of
Breunlin, Schwartz, hierarchy with the idea of leadership and later added the
concept of balance.
and MacKune-
Karrer (1997)  Balanced family leadership requires the ability to be firm,
but friendly, and to set developmentally appropriate limits
- Metaframeworks while remaining fair, flexible, and encouraging.
 In balanced families, individuality and connection to the family
are both significant
 Are the parents effective leaders of the family?
 4. Developmental
 the family life cycle focuses on six significant transitions
(Carter & McGoldrick, 2005):
8 Lenses in Family
Systems Therapy
1. Single adult leaves home
2. Individuals become a couple
3. Couple has children and starts family
Breunlin, Schwartz, 4. Children become adolescents
and MacKune- 5. Parents prepare for life without children
Karrer (1997) 6. Children now have to care for parents and their own families

- Metaframeworks
 Where is the family in the family life cycle, and how are they
handling transitions?
 5. Multicultural
 Reframing the dominant culture and fostering an appreciation
and valuing of diversity
8 Lenses in Family
Systems Therapy  Multicultural perspectives that need to look into:
1. Membership as an immigrant in a dominant society
2. Level of economic privilege or poverty
3. Level of education and process of learning
Breunlin, Schwartz, 4. Ethnicity
and MacKune- 5. Religion
Karrer (1997) 6. Gender
7. Age
- Metaframeworks 8. Race, discrimination, and oppression
9. Minority versus majority status
10. Regional background
 What cultures are in the family backgrounds of each of the
family members?
 6. Gender
 Address power positions that are part of the hierarchical
structure of families
8 Lenses in Family
 Challenge unequal status and treatment of women
Systems Therapy
 What gender role is each member of the family assuming?

Breunlin, Schwartz,
7. Teleological
and MacKune-
Karrer (1997)  Develop an understanding of what motivates individual
behavior, i.e. the purpose of patterned interactions
- Metaframeworks  Individuals and families act purposively – some actions
promote growth while some constrain growth
 What purpose is being served when the children interact with
their parents in the way they do?
 8. Process
• Examines where families are in the flow of life and the process
of change
8 Lenses in Family
• When routines are interfered with, the result is a disruption to
Systems Therapy the balanced system which can lead to a state of chaos in the
family
• Therapists serve as an external resource with primary
Breunlin, Schwartz, responsibility to help individuals reconnect with their
and MacKune- strengths
Karrer (1997) • Where is this family in the process of change?

- Metaframeworks
 1. Individual’s Internal Family
8 Lenses in Systems
Family Systems 2. Sequences (or patterns of
Therapy
interaction)
3. Organization (of the system)
Breunlin, Schwartz,
and MacKune- 4. Developmental
Karrer (1997) 5. Multicultural
6. Gender
-
Metaframeworks 7. Teleological
8. Process
A Multilensed
Process of
Family
Therapy
 • Marital distress
• Communicating problems among family
members
Application of • Power struggles
Family System
Therapy • Crisis situations in the family
• Helping individuals attain their potential or
overcome personal issues/struggle

• Enhancing the overall functioning of the

family
 Multicultural
Counseling:
• Family and Community System
• Ethnic and cultural groups place
Contributions: value on the role of the extended
family
- Multicultural • Deal with extended family
Counseling members and with support
systems
- Approaches
• Networking is a part of the process,
which is congruent with the values
of many clients
• A greater chance for individual
change if other family members
are supportive
• offers ways of working toward the
health of the family unit and the
welfare of each member
Approaches:
• Neither the individual nor the family
is blamed for a particular dysfunction
• The family is empowered through the
process of identifying and exploring
interactional patterns
• Working with an entire unit provides a
new perspective on understanding and
working through both individual
problems and relationship concerns
• By exploring one’s family of origin,
there are increased opportunities to
resolve other conflicts in systems
outside of the family
 Multicultural Approaches:
Counseling:
• Family therapy rests on value • Problems in being able to involve
assumptions that are not congruent all the members of a family in the
with the values of clients from some therapy (e.g. resistant)
Limitations: cultures
• Countertransference is high
- Multicultural • Western concepts such as
individuation, self-actualization, self-
Counseling determination, independence, and self-
- Approaches expression may be foreign to some
clients
• In some cultures, admitting problems
within the family is shameful
• The value of “keeping problems
within the family” may make it
difficult to explore conflicts
openly.
 Corey, G. (2016). Theory and practice of counseling and
psychotherapy. Cengage Learning.

Reference: